Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-12-15
LIE MESSAGE.
a Brief But Pointed Message Sent
to Congress.
fR Reduction the Main Question
Zreated ny the Iresident-A Docu-
sAent That the People Will
Read With Interest.

AAss morning. The document is unique il
&nat it deals with only one subject-th'
ssecessity OF Il reduction of taxation. Til
president felt that this necessity was s.
urgent that he departed from the ordinary
custom and devoted his whole message u
A7press upon Congress- the danger OF de
say Ihe address piunges into the que5
&soa At the start as follows:
40 0se Congress of tie United Stct>s:
You are confronted at the threshold OF you
legislative duties with a condition OF the ma
HH1nai nnance which imperatively demands I'M
<oeiiate and careful consideration The amount
sc money annually exacted. through the opera
Zion OF present laws, from the industries anC
necessities OF the people. largely exceed. the
Szm necessary TO meet the expenses OF the
government. When we consider that the
Hs1eery OF our institutions guarantees to every
GSc1i1sn the full enjoyment OF all the fruits OF
4HS industry and enterprise, with only such de
"ezcfSon as may be his share toward the careful
=aaasd economical maintenance OF the Govern
n1ssHS which protects him. it is plain that the
'r@zaction OF more than this is indefeasble ex-
cortton and culpable betrayal of American
SaiTness and justice.
This wrong inflicted upon those who bear the
burden OF National taxation. like other wrongs.
NzzItiplies brood OF evil consequences. The
Bzoz1c treasury, which should only exist a
conduit conveying the peoples tribute to its
legitimate objects of expenditure. becomes a
nHsarding place for money neodlessly withdrawn
'our National energies. suspending our country 5
development, preventing investment in pro-
~1sAcsiVe enterprises. threatening financial dis
11roanoe, and inviting schemes OF public plum
der.
This condition OF our treasury is not altogether
sHew; and it has more than once OF late been
admitted to the peoples representatives in
the Congress, who alone can apply q remedy.
An1 yet the situation still continues. with ag-
Bravated incidents, more than ever presaging
yul md Wide Gfa
II VIII not do to neglect this situation because
1es dangers are not now palpably imminent and
apparent They exist none the less certainly,
and await the unforeseen and unexpected occa-
sion when suddenly they will be precipitated
1pon US.
On the 10th day OF June, 1875. the excess of
revenues over public expenditures, after COM
plying with the annual requirements OF the
Sz2zing Fund act, was 81 1853. 1854; during the
year ended June 3D. 1886, such excess amounted
% 349 40o, $3.50: and during the year ended June
- ss8s, it reached the sum OF 81. 5G7. $3.50 The
annual contributions to the sinking fund during
The three years nbOve specified, amounting in
abe aggregate to Sl33. 0SS. O.9i. ana deducted
sr0s7a the surplus as stated, were made by call
S1g Ia Cor that purpose outstanding three per
cent bonds Of the Government
Ouring the six months prior to June 30, 1887,
The surplus revenue had grown large by re-
S@zfed ACCOMMODATIONS, aud 1t was feared the
5s[shdrawal of this great sum of money needed
she scOantry, that the sum of ST9,S4 100 OF
ssch snrplus was applied to the payment of the
RE1Dcipai and interest OF the three per cent
t8sunds still outstanding, and which where then
8aesssble at the option of the Government. The
Sofkcari0us condition of financial affairs among
One people still needing relief Immediately after
9lec 20th day OF June, 1857. the remainder OF the
Ahsee per cent. bonds then outstanding, amount
eng With principal and interest to the sum OF
416SSS, 599, were called in and applied to the
fh0 Acn.,
5e;r.
Notwithstanding these operations of the
Treasury Department the representations of
zZz1tress in business circles not only continued
bat increased, and absolute peril seemed at
Aand- In these circumstances the contribution
60 the sinking fund for the current fiscal
year was at once completed by the
SseRditure OF S97 ,634, So in the purchase OF
Government bonds not due bearing AZ
ger cent. interest, the premium paid thereon
sUu1Ge- and eight per cent. for the latter. In ad
-<Eitson to this the interest accrUing during the
current year upon the outstanding bonded in
<sebtedness OF the Government Was to some
extent anticipated, and banks selected as
&epOsitories OF public money were permitted
"a somewhat increase their deposits.
YRile the expedients thus employed to re-
Dease 20 the people the money lying idle in the
treasury served to avert immediate danger,
ssnI surplus revenues have continued to accu-
ing on the first day OF December to S55, 25S,-
SOLO, and is estimated to reach the sum of
SirAoo0,OC0 on the Both OF June next at which
date 1t is expected that this sum. added to prior
zSccnnaulations, will swell the surplus in the
treasury 10 sli0,Oo0,000.
.nlhere seems to be no assurance. that, with
such u withdrawal from OF the peoples cir
euiating medium, our business community may
E1ss in the near future be subjected to the same
distress which was quite lately produced from
xrl1.Ia
National treasury should be few and simple, and
while its best condition would be reached. be-
Reeve, by its entire disconnection with private
business interests. yet when, by a perverSion OF
ats purposes, it idly holds money uselesSly sub
Ex1cted from the channels OF trade there seems
90 be reason for the claim that some legitimate
sacans should be devised by the Government to
9cStore in an emergency, without waste eX-
Nravagance, such money to Its place among the
people. II such emergency arises there
now exists no clear and undoubted executive
power of relief.
&seSctO:ore the redemption OF three per cent
4onSs. which were payable at the option OF the
Government, has afforded q means for the dis
OQrsement OF the excess of our revenues: but
these bonds have all been retired, and there ar
no bonds outstanding the payment of which W,
have the right to insist upon. The contribution
the sinking fund.- which furnishes the occa
sion for expenditure in the purchase of bonds
AAs been already made for the current year, 81
In the present state of legislation, the onl,
yIretense OF any existing executive power to re
store, at this time, any part of our surplus rev
.cnues to the people by its expenditure consist
IN the supposition that the Secretary OF TIT
Treasury may enter the market and purchas
the bonds OF the Government not yet due Ut
rate OF premium TO be agreed upon. The onl
Frovision oflaw from which such power coul
ne derived is found in the appropriation bill
pasSed q number of years ago, and it is sublec
0na he intended
-EcEary and limited in its application, instea
OF comforting y continuing discretion an
authority.
No condition ought to exist which woul
Justify the grant of power to a single ofacia
uoon his Judgment of its necessity, to Withhold
from or release 10 the business OF the people,
an unusual manner, money held in the trea:
x,rv and thus affect at his WILL the hnancis
situation of the country; and If it is deene
,sisc To lodge In the Secretary of the Treasur
the authority in the present iuncture to pul